Social Identity Theory Research Articles

Türkiye’de Covid-19 Salgınında Halkla İlişkiler Kampanyaları ve Gebelerin Aşı Olma Tutumları

Vaccines have been produced and released in different countries to prevent the risk of transmission of Covid-19, which is shown as the biggest global pandemic of the era, and to eliminate the pandemic situation. Public relations campaigns to promote vaccines to the global public is an issue that deserves academic scrutiny. The possible side effects of vaccines according to the age and health status of individuals and the fact that they have not been tried before have brought along doubts in the public opinion. The misinformation spread through communication tools about these doubts has also caused fear and panic in the society. The intensive production of content on social media during the pandemic period has made the dissemination of misinformation and distortion of information on the subject prominent. Although scientific data and findings have shown that vaccination is important, public panic has been tried to be dampened by public relations campaigns. Considering that vaccines are seen as a threat as much as the pandemic, especially for pregnant women, the importance of examining the role of public relations campaigns in accurate information and crisis management can be understood. For this purpose, it is aimed to reveal how public relations campaigns are perceived in individuals' decision-making and vaccination tendencies. In the study, qualitative design method was preferred and data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews. For this purpose, the tendency of pregnant women to be vaccinated was questioned in interviews with 5 gynecologists from different districts of Ankara. Taking regional differences into account, the perspectives of health personnel on public relations campaigns were tried to be revealed. The study was conducted between March and June 2023. The study focuses on the concept of opinion leader of the two-stage flow model used in communication studies and focuses on how ideas about vaccination spread from opinion leaders to the society. In addition, the study utilizes social identification theory, which conducts research to understand how social norms are formed, change and function.

Language Attitudes toward Accented Speech in the Workplace in Switzerland

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the language attitudes toward accented speech in the workplace in Switzerland. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Language attitudes toward accented speech in the workplace in Switzerland reveals a nuanced perception influenced by the country's multilingual environment. Studies indicate that individuals with native Swiss German accents tend to receive higher professionalism ratings compared to those with foreign accents, reflecting a bias that aligns with local linguistic preferences. Additionally, accents from non-European languages often face stigmatization, leading to perceptions of reduced competence and credibility. However, some findings suggest that exposure to diverse accents can foster greater acceptance and appreciation over time, particularly in multicultural workplaces. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social identity theory, linguistic accommodation theory & perception theory may be used to anchor future studies on the language attitudes toward accented speech in the workplace in Switzerland. Organizations should develop clear guidelines for performance evaluations that eliminate the subjective influence of accent bias. Organizations should establish policies that mandate participation in diversity training for all employees, including during onboarding and ongoing professional development.

A STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE HETEROGENITY ON TEAM CREATIVITY

This study categorizes the knowledge heterogeneity of "Internet+" college student innovation and entrepreneurship teams into three dimensions: explicit, pseudo-hidden, and true hidden. It examines their impact on team creativity by introducing team identification as a moderating variable. We construct a theoretical model from the perspective of team collaboration, drawing on knowledge innovation theory and social identity theory. We conducted the empirical study using SPSS and AMOS software, based on questionnaire data from 136 "Internet+" college student innovation and entrepreneurship competition teams. The results show that explicit and pseudo-hidden knowledge heterogeneity has significant positive effects on team creativity, whereas true hidden knowledge heterogeneity has a negative impact. Furthermore, team identification plays different moderating roles in the relationships between pseudo-hidden, true hidden knowledge heterogeneity, and team creativity.

How do green CSR initiatives influence green employee engagement among tourism and hospitality employees?

AbstractDrawing support from social identity theory (SIT), the present study examines green corporate social responsibility (GCSR) initiatives, green organizational identity (GOI), and green service‐oriented behavior (GSOB) as antecedents of green employee engagement in the hotel sector. In addition to the direct association between the study constructs, the study assessed the mediating effects of GOI and GSOB on GCSR and green engagement association. Data collected from hotel employees in India utilizing a three‐wave time lag was analyzed through PROCESS macro. The finding confirmed the direct as well as the serial mediating effects of GOI and GSOB for the relationship between green CSR and green engagement. The study is insightful in understanding how GCSR activities can build a green reputation for a company that in turn will enhance the identification of the employees. The uniqueness of this study is evident in studying the constructs that have a strong alignment with the nature of the tourism and hospitality sectors. Conceptualizing the serial mediating effects of GOI and GSOB for the relationship between GCSR and green engagement in the tourism and hospitality sector is also a novel addition to the existing literature.

The Influence of Peer Pressure on Students: Cause, Effect, and Strategies for Intervention

Peer pressure is a powerful social influence that affects students' behavior, attitudes, and academic performance. This research paper explores the causes and effects of peer pressure among students, with a particular focus on its implications in the educational context. Drawing on established psychological theories such as Social Learning Theory and Social Identity Theory, the paper reviews existing literature on the topic and identifies key factors contributing to peer pressure, including the desire for acceptance, social media influence, and the role of school culture. The negative effects of peer pressure, such as academic underperformance, emotional stress, and risky behaviors, are discussed, alongside the less commonly acknowledged positive effects, such as improved motivation in some cases. Furthermore, the paper presents strategies for educators to mitigate the harmful impacts of peer pressure, including fostering open communication, building student self-esteem, and creating a supportive school environment. By examining both the causes and solutions, the study aims to provide educators with actionable insights to address peer pressure in schools and promote a healthier, more inclusive learning atmosphere.

Understanding the Role of Psychosocial Factors in Online News Addiction

ABSTRACT The internet has fundamentally changed the way in which individuals interact with news. Unfortunately, research suggests a growing number of people have become addicted to online news, resulting in negative consequences. In this research, we examine this phenomenon through the lens of social identity theory. We posit that, for some individuals, the identity adopted through group memberships becomes central to their daily life. This, along with fear of missing out and lack of trust in one’s social network, lead to online news addiction. Our findings confirm this view and offer new insights for why users overconsume online news. Our contributions are threefold. First, we provide a theoretically grounded explanation of online news addiction based on social identity theory. Second, our multidimensional conceptualization of social identity combined with centrality provides a nuanced pattern for future addiction studies. Finally, we identify factors which may be used to curb online news addiction.

Psychological Explanations for Surveillance Technologies in Crime Prevention

The growth of surveillance technology in relation to crime prevention raises questions about the effectiveness of such tools in altering behavior. This essay provides an examination of surveillance technology through psychological theories and propose that ideas such as social-identity theory and shame culture help to explain where surveillance technology may succeed or fail to prevent crime.

‘Everything everywhere all at once’: Paradigm shifts, the dynamics of agency, and the January 6th assault on the US capitol

To unpack the underlying causes of the events of January 6th, 2021, by supporters of outgoing President Trump, this essay pursues two lines of inquiry. Firstly, drawing on insights from Kuhn and Bion into, respectively, paradigm shifts and group dynamics, we argue support for Trump’s promise to ‘make American great again’ is rooted in anxiety triggered by various disruptive changes facing Americans. Followers alleviate this by becoming dependent upon Trump, thereby affording him undue influence. January 6th itself, we argue, was a paradigm shifting event, constituting a shattering betrayal of a sitting President’s fundamental duty to uphold the Constitution and keep the country safe from harm. Secondly, we examine the MAGA worldview, drawing on social identity theory, its offshoot regarding leadership, and notions of agency. We highlight its deleterious effects on how Trump and his followers exercised their agency and, simultaneously, how it legitimated Trump’s reckless betrayal of his responsibilities. Through our analysis of these underlying causes, we conclude that January 6th was no mere aberration in terms of what Trump and his supporters are capable of doing. Rather we contend the same forces animating what happened that day remain a clear and present danger to democracy in America.

Experience identification: connecting online engagement to offline loyalty

Purpose This paper aims to examine the transformative role of experience identification in connecting online communities to offline experiences. This study also aims to understand if consumers in the pre-experience stage can identify with an experience and how this influences their subsequent evaluations, focusing on the impact of online community participation. Design/methodology/approach A theoretical model, based on social identity theory, is tested using a two-study approach. Study 1 involves first-time cruisers in an online cruise community. Study 2 extends the findings to a broader range of travel experiences, including both first-time and repeat travelers. Findings Results suggest that experiential consumers can identify with an experience in the pre-experience stage through two key community participation variables – experience imagination and emotional significance. Experience identification directly influences loyalty, which subsequently impacts word-of-mouth and satisfaction post-experience. Practical implications Service providers should leverage forums, brand communities and social media platforms to enhance interactivity between experienced and first-time customers. Strategies are presented to foster user interaction and interconnectedness, boosting consumer satisfaction and loyalty and providing a competitive advantage from the outset of the customer journey. Originality/value Despite the recognized importance of experiential consumption, the marketing literature has largely focused on the actual consumption experience, overlooking the pre-experience stage. This research highlights the critical role of the pre-experience stage, showing that the value of an experience begins before the service encounter and continues after it ends.

A cross‐cultural test of competing hypotheses about system justification using data from 42 nations

AbstractSystem justification theory (SJT) is a thriving field of research, wherein the primary questions revolve around why individuals and groups are motivated to see the systems they depend on as just, fair, and legitimate. This article seeks to answer how accurate the postulates of SJT are when compared to competing self‐interest claims of social identity and social dominance theory. We addressed the ongoing debates among proponents of each theory by identifying who, when, and why individuals decide to system‐justify. We used data comprised of 24,009 participants nested within 42 countries. Multilevel models largely supported the competing claims of social dominance and social identity theories over SJT. The most robust findings were: (1) greater objective socioeconomic status (SES) was associated with greater system justification; (2) the consistent positive relationship between subjective SES and system justification was partially mediated by life satisfaction; and (3) both ends of the political spectrum were willing to system‐justify more when the political party they favored was in power. The results presented are used to discuss both the current state and the future directions for system justification research.

Believing in Change: Predicting Identification, Performance, and Ethical Culture in an Organizational Acquisition Case in Romania

This study examines how positive beliefs about organizational changes during a foreign acquisition case influence organizational identification, perceptions of ethical organizational culture, and individual performance seven months post-acquisition. By integrating theories of social identity and organizational change, we offer a new perspective on how positive perceptions of change influence key outcomes following mergers and acquisitions (M&As). Using a cross-lagged design with two cross-sectional datasets within a high-intensity telecommuting organization in Romania, we found that viewing change positively significantly enhanced organizational identification, perceptions of ethical organizational culture, and individual performance. These findings highlight the crucial role of effectively managing the narrative surrounding change processes and enhancing employee perceptions in successful organizational integration following M&As.

The Influence of Environmental Sustainability Initiatives on Employee Morale: The Mediating Role of Organizational Identification

This study investigates the impact of environmental sustainability initiatives on employee morale, with a specific focus on the mediating role of organizational identification. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research encompasses quantitative data from 500 employees across various industries in Germany and qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal that environmental sustainability initiatives positively influence employee morale both directly and indirectly through enhanced organizational identification. Employees who perceive a strong alignment between their values and their organization's sustainability efforts report higher job satisfaction and commitment. The study also highlights the critical role of leadership and communication in successfully implementing sustainability initiatives. These insights extend social identity theory and contribute to the literature on corporate social responsibility (CSR) by elucidating the internal benefits of sustainability practices. Practical implications for organizational leaders and policymakers include integrating sustainability into core business strategies, fostering organizational identification, and promoting transparent communication to enhance employee morale and organizational effectiveness.

Exploring online advocacy mechanisms through self-presentation: a comparative analysis between e-commerce website customers

PurposeUnderpinning social identity theory (SIT) and service-dominant logic (SDL), the current paper seeks to explore the effect of self-presentation on online brand advocacy (OBA). Furthermore, this paper investigates the mediating role of hedonic value and the moderating role of customer interaction with e-commerce websites (i.e. Amazon, Walmart and eBay).Design/methodology/approachData were collected from customers of three e-commerce platforms (i.e. Walmart, Amazon and eBay) using a structured questionnaire – multi-group analysis applied on SmartPLS 4.4.FindingsSelf-presentation has a positive role in increasing hedonic value and its impact on OBA. The moderating effect of customer interaction on these relationships is also investigated and found to be significant.Social implicationsOur findings underscore the significance of fostering inclusive online communities and favorable online settings. Existing findings are consistent with overarching objectives of digital empowerment and enhanced online interaction quality. This paper contributes to harmonious and collaborative digital societies by encouraging personalized experiences that foster a sense of belonging among diverse customers.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the existing body of knowledge by comparing customer behavior on three major e-commerce platforms, going beyond the traditional focus on a single platform. Drawing on SIT and SDL, this paper provides a distinct nomological framework for OBA that unifies disparate constructs, filling theoretical gaps in our understanding of online customer behavior.

Exploring the relationship between hybrid founder social identities and entrepreneurs’ psychological resilience

ABSTRACT This study explores the link between entrepreneurs’ hybrid founder social identity and psychological resilience, applying social identity theory and broaden-and-build theory. Psychological resilience is crucial for entrepreneurial success, given the challenging environments in which entrepreneurs operate. Yet, research on individual-level antecedents of entrepreneurs’ psychological resilience is limited. Entrepreneurs today strive to address social and ecological issues without sacrificing financial gain, making hybrid identity types—combining “opportunistic” (Darwinian) and “altruistic” (Communitarian or Missionary) elements—increasingly relevant. Analyzing survey data from 886 entrepreneurs, we find that entrepreneurs with specific hybrid identities (Darwinian-Communitarian or Darwinian-Missionary combinations) exhibit greater psychological resilience. We attribute this to their expanded ability to draw meanings and experience positive emotions from diverse sources, providing them with a broader psychological foundation to rely on in challenging times. This work enhances our understanding of entrepreneurs’ antecedents of psychological resilience and offers insights into the complexities of hybrid founder identities.

Antecedents of visitors’ brand loyalty: An investigation of India International Trade Fair

Tourism destinations rely on visitors’ loyalty for continued profitability, which is reflected in repeat visits to a particular destination. Events play a critical role in enhancing the demand for a destination and increasing visitor loyalty. This study focuses on measuring the impact of visitors’ brand experience, visitors’ brand experience, visitors’ brand identification, satisfaction, and trust on their brand loyalty in the context of the India International Trade Fair (IITF) held in New Delhi. A structured questionnaire was administered to 243 visitors attending the event. The proposed conceptual model draws on the theories of Anthropomorphism, Social Identity and Relationship Marketing. Empirical testing was conducted using Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling. The results indicate that visitors’ brand loyalty is significantly predicted by their personality, experience, brand identification, satisfaction, and trust at IITF. There is limited research on the antecedents of visitors’ brand loyalty in the context of festivals and events. This research adds new dimension to studies pertaining to festivals and events. Based on the findings, the study proposes directions for future research and managerial implications for event organizers.

Investigating feelings of imposterism in first-year medical student narratives.

Imposter phenomenon (IP), feeling as if a person does not belong, has been reported in medical students at various rates. In medical literature, this phenomenon has often been defined as a 'syndrome', but other studies have described it as a dynamic experience that can have various impacts on different people at different time points. Although studies have linked IP with other phenomena such as burnout in residents and physicians, no studies have examined its aetiology nor how these feelings are experienced by medical students. With the use of social identity theory as a framework, the authors analysed 233 reflective essays for elements of IP across eight cohorts of medical students from two institutions. Students responded to a prompt that asked: 'What was one part of your identity that you thought you would have to change in order to become a physician?' Included reflections were analysed using the framework method. Elements of IP were identified in 121 reflections (52%) and were categorised into three major themes: (1) Comparing oneself to an idealised image of a medical student, (2) Comparing oneself to an idealised image of a physician and (3) Concerns about presentation of self to others. Each theme contained two or more sub-themes. Commonly, students discussed how their own personality traits, experiences, backgrounds and identities cast doubt on their sense of belonging in medicine. The results of this study were consistent across both institutions, suggesting that imposter feelings are common among all first-year medical students. However, the extent of the impact of these feelings on their identity formation depends on the individual lived experiences of students and the context in which these feelings arise. Encouraging reflective journaling and sharing of stories from all stages of education can normalise imposter feelings during the development of the professional identity as a physician.

How do inclusive leaders emerge? A theory-based model

Despite recent theoretical developments examining the emergence of several types of leadership, there is a paucity of research on the emergence of inclusive leaders. We sought to address this gap by proposing a theory-based conceptual model. We identify a paradox in leader emergence: Although there is evidence that inclusive leaders can improve organizational effectiveness, those who influence decisions about leader selection, both formal and informal, often overlook this evidence and instead select leaders who do not practice inclusion. Integrating expectation states theory and implicit leadership theory to explain leadership emergence, with social identity theory and social comparison theory to explain inclusion, we propose a conceptual model culminating with four propositions. The model suggests practices that can support inclusive leadership and how inclusive leadership can improve organizational effectiveness and employee well-being. We conclude with implications for policies to promote inclusive leadership emergence and propose avenues for future research.

The associations between EFL learners’ L2 class belongingness, emotion regulation strategies, and perceived L2 proficiency in an online learning context

ABSTRACT Although the sense of belongingness plays a major influence in fostering intrinsic motivation and psychological well-being, scant research attention has been given to English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ belongingness in relation to peers and teachers and its outcomes in L2 learning contexts. Additionally, despite the importance of emotion regulation in L2 education, little is known about its role in mediating the impact of L2 belongingness on self-assessment of L2 proficiency in online L2 learning environments. Therefore, the present study used survey data to examine the associations between learners’ sense of class belongingness, their preferred emotional regulation strategies (reappraisal vs. suppression) and self-perceived English proficiency, in a sample of 191 Turkish EFL university students. Path analysis results indicated significant direct paths between social belongingness with peers and academic belongingness with teachers, respectively, and the emotional regulation strategy of reappraisal. Further analysis indicated a significant indirect association between social belongingness with peers and perceived L2 proficiency through the measure of reappraisal emotional regulation. There was also a significant indirect relationship via reappraisal between academic belongingness with teachers and perceived L2 proficiency. The results are discussed in connection with self-determination theory and social identity theory, and implications are drawn for teaching.

Do policy instruments that restrict social identity expression increase economic cooperation?

Recent public and corporate policies restricting social identity expression, such as the face-covering restrictions in many European countries, presume that prominent signals of our social identity differences drive division even when inference about social identity is unaffected. Social identity theory predicts that limiting identity expression could positively or negatively affect how groups interact. We use an experiment to test whether a treatment that bans displaying an identity pin affects cooperation in public goods provision. Our subjects are U.K. residents who were in favor of leaving or remaining in the European Union. Each subject is simultaneously in two different yet economically identical environments that are distinguished only by the social identities of the group members. They play two simultaneous one-shot public goods games, one with others who share their identity (in-group public good), and one with a mixture of Leavers and Remainers (mixed-group public good). The political identities of all subjects and the structure of each group are known by everyone. Our treatments vary whether there exists a ban on displaying a Leaver/Remainer identity pin to others and whether Leavers or Remainers are the majority identity in the mixed groups. We find that banning pinning increases contributions to the mixed group when Leavers are the majority. These increases can be explained by changes in beliefs rather than the notion that shared group identity per se affects behavior. These setting- and identity-specific results suggest that policies designed to promote integration should be examined in the context in which they will be applied.

When identification with your group matters: leader consultation in response to constructive follower voice

ABSTRACT Integrating social exchange and social identity theory, the present research investigates to what extend and why follower social identification matters for the relationship between constructive follower voice and leader consultation. We argue that when the voicing follower is strongly identified with the joint workgroup, leaders will positively reciprocate constructive voice with consultation, as a concrete participatory leader behaviour, because they perceive this follower’s voice as more constructive. We conducted a multi-wave field study (N = 177) and two pre-registered experiments (N = 199 and N = 528). Overall, we found that leaders consulted constructive voicers more when they were strongly rather than weakly identified with the joint workgroup, because they perceived their voice as a more constructive contribution. Comparison with a neutral control condition further showed that this effect was mainly due to leaders refraining from consultation when voicing followers were weakly identified. Additionally comparing constructive voice to two other types of proactive expressions (i.e. destructive voice, supportive voice) in Study 3 showed that followers’ weak social identification attenuated the positive effect of voice on leaders’ perceived voice constructiveness only for constructive voice (i.e. challenging and promotive) but not for non-challenging (i.e. supportive) or non-promotive (i.e. destructive) follower expressions.